Dockside Safety Exams Soon Mandatory For Many Fishing Boats

Commercial fishing boats, tenders and floating processors that operate more than three miles off shore will soon have to get safety exams every two years. Until now, those dockside exams were voluntary. Under the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010, they will be mandatory after October 16th according to Ken Lawrenson, the Fishing Vessel Safety Coordinator for the Coast Guard in Alaska.